Season of Mists: Chapter 2

I don't make them come here. They talk of me going around and buying souls, like a fishwife come market day, never stopping to ask themselves why. I need no souls. And how can anyone own a soul? No. They belong to themselves... They just hate to have to face up to it.

Appearing in "Season of Mists: Chapter 2"

Synopsis for "Season of Mists: Chapter 2"

Prepared to do battle with the hordes of Hell, if necessary, Dream makes his way through the front gates of Lucifer's domain. However, he finds the place strangely empty.

Seeking out Nada, so that he can apologize and free her, he finds her cell empty. He realizes that it is not just Nada who is missing, but the entire population of Hell is in Absence. He calls out for Lucifer by name until finally he hears the fallen angel's response.

Dream demands answers as to what's happened, and Lucifer responds simply that he's quit. As a result of this decision, he has freed everyone imprisoned in hell, and they have dispersed to any number of places. There are, however, a few stragglers, and Dream accompanies him to send them away.

One such straggler is Breschau, who believes that his punishment is justified for all of the horrific crimes he committed nearly 1100 years ago in the now obsolete region of Livonia. Lucifer explains that Breschau and his crimes are entirely forgotten by the mortal men of the present, and as such, there is no need for more punishment. Breschau resists, but after more convincing ultimately disappears.

Two more demons remain behind. They disbelieve that Lucifer is truly the same fallen angel who ruled Hell for eons, feeling that the true ruler of Hell would never give up his position. Angrily, Lucifer responds that he will do as he pleases, and the demons are sent away.

Now alone, Lucifer explains to Dream that he thinks his fall from Heaven was not so much a rebellion as an event orchestrated by God; merely a destined outcome to be played out. Now, he has decided that he is done with his lot, and he takes up the key to lock each of the gateways to Hell. As they travel around sealing each gate, Lucifer explains that it is not his influence that brings people to hell or places them in torment. It is the mortals' inner desire to be punished for wrongdoings, and they demand punishment of him.

With the final gate closed, Lucifer is surprised to be accosted by a young demon woman named Mazikeen. She professes that she will not leave him, because she loves him. Though he is thankful of her love, Lucifer kisses her and sends her away like all the others. Taking the girl's knife, he passes it to Dream and asks that he cut off his wings for him.

As Dream performs his bloody task, he asks after Nada. Lucifer does not know what happened to the woman, but he is sure that she is in some dimension. He wishes Dream luck in finding her, and then bequeaths the key to the gates of hell to him. Grinning, he announces that Dream is now the sole monarch of a locked and empty hell, and he expects that this new role will bring the Dream Lord nothing but trouble.